Standard School celebrates over $160,000 in donations

Times Contributor     

 

The staff, students and volunteers of Standard School in East Wheatland welcomed some special guests to their school on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to celebrate and give thanks for some major donations to the development of the school.

Greg Lendvay, associate principal of Standard School, in his address to the students said, “they have enjoyed some of the recent changes to our school because of the generosity of three major contributors (two from last year and one from 2013)”.

Craig and Celeste Christensen, along with Mark and Carol Pollard (sister of Dale), represented the Dale Christensen Family Fund to support 21st century learning. The family group donated $50,000 on behalf of Dale Christensen to the development of a learning common space as opposed to a traditional library, iPads for teachers and a digital display monitor. Craig Christensen spoke highly of his uncle, who grew up in the Standard area and went to school in Standard. 

“He attended Standard school where he loved learning, math in particular, he always said Standard school gave him a wonderful start to his education,” said Christensen. “(My uncle’s) generosity is why I’m here today to tell you about him. Uncle Dale had a passion for learning and believed it was a lifelong gift. He and his family hope that the donation to Standard school will help others share his passion for learning and benefit our local school”.

Over $100,000 in equipment and donations to purchase equipment by Apple Fitness, Class of 2012 and the Standard Lions and Lionettes was also recognized. Trevor Irwin from the Apple Fitness Store in Calgary represented the store as well as the Apple Seeds Program. 

“For over five years now Apple Fitness Store has worked with numerous charities and not-for-profit groups in helping them plant the seed of fitness to those that they serve by donating equipment ourselves, and by finding partners within our community willing to donate their old equipment to our program instead of selling it, or taking it to landfills,” said Irwin.

“When equipment is donated we go through it to ensure that it is safe to be used, and help figure out the logistics of getting the equipment to its new home. In the past five years through the generous donors who have contributed to the Appleseed program, our program has placed over a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of fitness equipment in to facilities such as the one we celebrate today.”

Over the last five years the Apple Seeds Program has donated over half a million dollars in equipment donations and funds to communities and schools.

Shaun Kathol, on behalf of Agrium, spoke of the $10,000 donation for the outdoor classroom. Lendvay said, “This is something that Agrium has allowed our students and staff to develop and create. It is a project that we will undertake in the spring that will be sustainable and we will be able to take with us to the new school in East Wheatland.”

The morning assembly concluded with a turkey dinner prepared by the Foods Group led by Mrs. Tiffany Phillips for the entire Grade1 through 12 student body, staff and guests.